Harrington shoots 65 between the jig and the reels

PADRAIG HARRINGTON was blissfully unaware of it, but he was involved in the biggest drama when the Omega Hong Kong Open started yesterday.

As defending champion Harrington chipped onto the sixth green en route to a five under par 65 which left him only one behind Australian Adam Groom, American Bryan Saltus was watching.

The problem was that he did not want to be watching. He wanted to get to the 10th tee - in a hurry. Saltus, not even in the world's top 1,000 and trying this week to save his Asian Tour career, was due there to begin his first round, but the driver of the minibus he was in was worried about disturbing Harrington and had stopped.